Bloggin' 'bout Books: Lost in Books, or My Random Thoughts on Reading

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Lost in Books, or My Random Thoughts on Reading

1:58 PM

I've been working so hard on Christmas - decorating the house, writing out Christmas cards, standing in line at the post office, etc. - that I haven't gotten as much reading done as I would have liked. It didn't help that I was reading a book I just couldn't get into - John Dunning's Booked to Die. I may come back to this one, but for now, I'm going to return it to the library. After abandoning Dunning, I picked up The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud, which is fabulous. I'm really enjoying it. A review will be up just as soon as I finish the novel.

Since I don't have a book review, I thought I would throw out a question, which was inspired by a conversation I had with my husband last night. We were talking about recurring dreams and he mentioned one he has in which he's searching for me amid endless rows of books. We laughed about it, because I am frequently "lost" in a book. My husband is incredibly patient with my compulsive reading, but I think his dream reveals his occasional frustration with it. So, my question is this: how does your significant other deal with your (sometimes) obsessive reading habits? Does he/she care? Suffer in silence? If you don't have a significant other, what about your kids, friends or other relatives? How do they react to living with a bibliophile?

I think everyone has something to which they are addicted, be it video games or golf or crochet or tv; something with which they get so absorbed they forget about the real world. Books just happen to be my choice of drug. My husband deals with it. Patiently. Just like I deal with his love for PSP, sports and various electronics. It works for us, but I guess my husband's dream made me realize I need to pop my head back into the real world every now and then ... just to let him know I'm not so lost that I can't be found :)

4 comments:

Cath28 November, 2007 15:46
Well, my husband reads as much, if not more, than I do - mainly because he reads faster than me. That said, his attitude to books is different. He reads to pass the time, I read because I love it. The bit where he has to be patient is with my need to acquire books. He doesn't have the same need to own books as I do and is happy to use the library all the time. Thus, when we go out, I'm in and out of book shops and charity shops looking for 'finds'. Luckily he is amazingly tolerant person and feels that there are worse addictions to have. My kids, well they're grown up and the eldest is addicted to books too. I think they feel my choice of reading is rather odd but otherwise they don't have a problem. My brother, on the other hand, thinks I'm completely mad because he never reads anything. And I have no comprehension of that whatsoever. How can anyone exist without books?
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Shelley29 November, 2007 08:16
I am very blessed with an understanding husband who rarely comments when I'm reading a book amidst a complete disaster-area of a house! He has his things he gets wrapped up in--mainly housing market blogs and football. I think we all just need such things to cope with life.
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Susan29 November, 2007 10:28
Cath - I can't believe there are people out there who don't read. I agree - there are much worse addictions than reading. I think that's why dh is so patient when my house is in ruins and I've got my nose stuck in a book! Thank God for patient husbands (who have equally patient wives :).

Shelley - I agree. BTW: I just checked out your blog. Your blog description cracked me up. I'm adding it to my list of links - hope you don't mind!
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Anonymous01 December, 2007 06:07
My husband is very tolerant of my obsession with books, reading and endlessly talking about books and reading. He does wonder why I have a need to own so many books. So many that I haven't even read yet. LOL He has his love of sports and, therefore, I don't feel bad when he goes to play golf or basketball or whatnot or is watching same on TV. Reading is rather solitary and I have to remind myself to come up for air occasionally. My daughter (who is not an obsessive reader but who finally does read occasionally) was raised with a mother who had her in one hand and a book in the other. My relatives (both hubby's family and mine) think I am completely nuts. I tell them year after year to never worry about what to get me as a gift. A bookstore gift card would be most appreciated. I never get one. They all say I have enough books. I mean, what is that about???
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